Stoker pleads guilty in federal case

One chapter of the long ordeal of the family of fallen Chester police officer and volunteer firefighter James Brockmeyer appears to be coming to a close.

On Jan. 26, 35-year-old Jason M. Stoker, of Chester, pleaded guilty in federal court to a one-count indictment of conspiracy to distribute more than 50 grams of methamphetamine.

The indictment alleged the offense occurred between June 2016 and October 31, 2016 in Randolph County.

Stoker also faces four criminal charges - including first-degree murder - in Randolph County related to the October 28, 2016 accident in which Brockmeyer was fatally injured when his squad car crashed during a police chase of a suspect alleged to be Stoker.

Brockmeyer was only 22 years old and in his 10th month with the Chester Police Department at the time of his death.

According to a news release from the Department of Justice, Stoker faces a punishment range of 10 years to life imprisonment on the meth offense, with at least five years of supervised release and a $10 million fine.

Stoker is currently being held without bond at the Randolph County Jail pending a May 11 sentencing hearing.

The investigation into the meth offense was conducted by the Randolph County Sheriff's Office, Jackson County Sheriff's Office, Chester Police Department, Illinois State Police, Cape Girardeau (Mo.) Police Department, St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, United States Marshals Service and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

The Randolph County State's Attorney's Office also assisted in the investigation. The case is assigned to Assistant United States Attorneys Amanda A. Robertson and Adam E. Hanna for prosecution.